As you can probably surmise, rosehip oil is derived from roses. The oil is a fabulous component of your skin care routine because it is
full of beauty-boosting vitamin A, vitamin C and the essential fatty
acids omega-3 and omega-6. Rose hip oil is full of vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids that are known to correct dark spots and hydrate dry, itchy skin, all while reducing scars and fine lines.

I have become obsessed with skin oils because I have dry skin. After using Ole Henriksen's Pure Truth Youth Activating Oil my skin was extra smooth. This oil is great. This oil has helped immensely during the dry winter. One or two pumps are all I need. My skin looks exceptionally clear, with no reactions or oily
residue, plus the refreshing citrus scent is a perfect pick-me-up first thing in the morning!

I love rosehip oil, but I especially love the citrus benefits that this
oil provides. Aging skin definitely needs vitamin C, and I find that
this oil has brightened up my dull, dry, skin. It has also helped
decrease the redness/ruddiness of my skin.

I prefer to use this in the mornings, after I cleanse, but before my
moisturizer. I don't find that it interferes with my foundation, matter
of fact I think it keeps my skin moisturized which adds a nice glow to
my overall routine.
If you suffer from dry/dehydrated skin, and with the Winter we are having who isn't, I highly recommend Ole Henriksen's Pure Truth Youth Activating Oil. It retails for $45.00. It may be purchased at Sephora, www.olehenriksen.com, www.skinstore.com and www.amazon.com.

Monday, March 2, 2015

We all want our makeup to last hours on end. But for many of us, once we apply our makeup it is pretty much guaranteed that half, if not more, will be gone by the end of the day. This is where Skindinavia's bridal makeup setting spray comes in. Skindinavia is specifically designed to resist the effects of excess moisture. Their bridal mist helps keep makeup looking flawless and photo-ready. It absorbs quickly and lasts for up to 16 hours!!! One more plus, it is for all skin types. Also, did you that Skindinavia is the producer for Urban Decay's Makeup Setting Spray? Just a bit of trivia.

I have been using this product for about two weeks, and I really like it. It lives up to its promises. The product is very light, and I can barely feel it on my skin. I spray my face a couple of times, and I am ready to face the day. My makeup lasts for at least 12 hours. When I go to remove my makeup, almost all of it is still there. The product is odorless and so far has not created any break-outs. Once the Skindinavia dries, you don't feel it.

I am completely hooked on this! It makes my makeup look so dewy and
natural, even when I have a full face of makeup on. It increases the
staying power so much, I do not have to constantly touch up during the
day anymore.

The spray pump dispenses the product in a really nice fine mist, which
means minimal product for maximum effect! I cannot imagine running out of
it anytime soon.

I cannot vouch for its oil-controlling
properties, seeing as my face literally never gets oily. But based on my
experience, I'd say that it does not have any kind of mattifying effect. If you do have oily skin, try the Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray - Oil Control.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

I don't think I have ever done a list of makeup items that I cannot live without. So I thought I would start with my top five favorite lip glosses. They are in a variety of colors and price ranges that will fit anyone's budget. So in no particular order, here are my favorite lip glosses:

1) Tarina Tarantino Gem Gloss in Cabochon - this in one of my favorite light pink lip glosses. The applicator is not a doe foot, but rather a sponge which is almost oval in shape. It has a nice, sweet scent and not too sticky. The lip gloss retails for $19.00 and may be purchased at www.beauty.com and www.tarinatarantino.com;

2) Rimmel Stay Glossy in All Day Seduction - this medium pink gloss is very pigment and comes in at an afforadble price point. For me, the Rimmel lip gloss was unscented and slightly sticky. It is a beautiful shade of pink and perfect for Spring. Rimmel Stay Glossy retails for $3.78 and may be purchased at ULTA and www.drugstore.com and most local drugstores.

3) MAC Cremesheen Glass in Loud & Lovely - this lip gloss comes is in the shade Loud & Lovely. It is a blue pink and perfect for when you are doing a light eye. I would not recommend a dark eye with this color due to the fact that it is saturated in color. MAC Cremesheen has a doe foot applicator and has a slightly sweet scent. This lip gloss retails for $20.00, and may be purchased at you local MAC store or www.maccosmetics.com;

4) Mirenesse Lip Bomb in #2 - this is one great red lip gloss. It is in the shade of medium red and highly pigmented. It has a sponge applicator, but in more of an hour glass shape and not a doe foot. I did not really detect an odor, which is great for those with allergies. This awesome red lip gloss retails for $39.00 and may be purchased at www.mirenesse.com and www.amazon.com;

5) Sephora's Glass Ulta-Brillance Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Reflex She Sparkles (#03) - this a beautiful gold lip gloss. It is high in shine, very pigmented and moisturizing. The applicator is a doe foot applicator and I was unable to detect a scent. Again, great for those with allergies. The Sephora Glass Ulta-Brillance Ultra Shine Lip Gloss retails for $14.00 and may be purchased at Sephora or www.sephora.com.

So those are my favorites and I hope you get a chance to try one of the glosses. Let me know how your like it as I would love your feedback.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

A majority of us are kind to our skin during our skincare regimen. But when we apply our makeup the kindness stops there. BareMinerals has introduced a tinted hydrating gel cream which is a multi-tasking genius. It is a lightweight, skin-quenching gel cream which smoothes on effortlessly with just the right amount of coverage. In an instant your complexion shows a dewy, healthy-looking glow. BareMinerals Complexion Rescue has marine biotanicals to help hydrate and replenish thirsty skin, mineral electrolytes top help energize your skin and a skin-protecting antioxidant acts like your skin's bodyguard to help defend against environmental stressors. It even comes with a SPF of 30.

This is an everyday, lightweight, skin evener. I have normal to dry skin which just needs 'a little something' and this product is perfect
for that. I use a primer, apply this with my fingers, then lightly dust
some Mineral Veil over it. It is not too
matte or dewy, and it lasts all day. I can use Buttercream
on my medium skin, with pink undertones, skin. And it does not settle into my fine
lines either.

I love tinted moisturizers and lightweight foundations and this is the
BEST new product I have tried in a while. This gel cream has a bit more coverage than the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. It is
in no way a foundation, so why folks are knocking it for not having
coverage leads me to believe people did not understand what this product
is. It is a tinted moisturizer in a gel-cream format, is less runny than
other tinted moisturizers in tubes, and provides slightly more coverage than some. One layer gives very sheer tinted moisturizer coverage. Two layers give a light coverage and covers some redness. I do not need a separate moisturizer under this, which is great. I use this on days when I am running errands or don't need my full coverage foundation. My skin looks so even and healthy once applied, and I will admit I look at myself in the mirror when wearing this and just smile.

BareMinerals Complexion Rescue is one great product. It is formulated without oil, silicone, parabens and fragrance. It is a must try when you want something more moisturizing than your current tinted moisturizer.

BareMinerals Complexion retails for $29.00. If you are in the Metairie or Mandeville, Louisiana area, you may purchase this at About Face. If not, you may purchase this at ULTA, Sephora, www.bareescentuals.com or www.qvc.com.

Monday, February 23, 2015

YSL mascara just got better with its Volume Effet Faux Cils. This is a very expensive mascara, but very well worth the money. It is housed in a sleek gold tube with YSL on the cap. It smells like
rose petals and applies like a dream. It is not clumpy and the tip of the
brush is perfect for fanning out your lashes. They look fake, but
natural enough to get away with. They do not look clumpy or spidery. I
like long eyelashes, but I want volume more than anything else. This
mascara gives me both.

I am very particular when it comes to my eyelashes and how they appear. They must be perfect, otherwise I will be unhappy about the way I look. I usually wear either a Too Faced mascara, or one from Maybelline to achieve very long dramatic lashes. My lashes are long beforehand, so I want something that helps me enhance that.
This mascara is amazing.

I would like to add that I am willing to pay more for something if it is
worth the price and it does everything I need it too. I am always
looking for potential holy grail products. I have a lot of issues with a lot of
makeup. This has not caused me any issues, thankfully. I do have VERY
watery eyes and this did not smudge on me or get crunchy on me, like a lot of cheaper
mascaras do. I love the soft bristles and the mascara goes on thick and smoothly.

The only problem I could find is the mascara is a shiny gold, thus leaving the potential for smudges and finger prints. But that is such a minor thing to me, I do not even give it a second thought. I would definitely recommend this product to a friend.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Mally Perfect Prep Poreless Primer is an incredible way to smooth out and resurface skin, have your pores disappear, fill in lines and wrinkles and have your makeup last hours. Everyone knows that moisturizer is good for you skin, but it can also affect your makeup. When you use the Mally Perfect Prep Poreless Primer, you are keeping the moisturizer in your skin by creating a barrier between your skin and your makeup. No this formula will not make your pores "go away," but will create an illusion that they disappeared.

I have been using this product for a couple of weeks. I found this primer went on smoothly and blended very well. I like to try new things, so I have tried a lot of primers. A little
goes a long way, and it is silky smooth. You can use it day and night. I put
it over my moisturizer to seal in the moisturizer and then apply
everything on top of the primer. It works great to
hide pores and other imperfections in the texture of your skin. It is light
weight and makes your skin feel smooth.

This is one of the better primers I have purchased in the past. Your
makeup actually stays put all day, and it is easy to take off. Those with sensitive skin should not have any problems with this product. And those with oily skin will be happy to know that the primer does make it look as if your pores are small.

Perfect Prep Poreless Primer is the one necessary step that your makeup routine cannot do without.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Serums and peels are all the rage these days. And Juice Beauty is one of those products that delivers what it promises. Their Green Apple peel with alpha hydroxy acids exfoliates and refines to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and lightens hyperpigmentation. It promises to deliver spa grade exfoliation revealing a much brighter complexion while firming your skin at the same time.

One great thing about the Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive is that it is an antioxidant rich juice base. It has been clinically validated to age defy and help clear up those blemishes we get from time to time. And it is NEVER tested on animals. Something which I feel very good about.

This was not too strong for my sensitive skin. A little goes a long way because it glides on easily. I use this peel once or twice a week. It gives me fresh, dewy, younger looking skin. Other than an occasional tingle, this peel leaves my face feeling fresh, clean and toned. It did not irritate my skin, cause any redness or peeling. Not sure how effective it is long-term as I have only used it a couple of times. This is now a must have in my beauty routine. I feel good about using Juice Beauty products because they are not full of junk ingredients and chemicals.

After doing some research, I noticed that those individuals with acne prone skin saw a difference. Their skin began to clear and their pores began to reduce. Those with normal skin saw a reduction in fine lines. This may be expensive to some of my readers, but let me tell you it is worth the price. And since you only use a little but each time, it should last you.

Monday, February 16, 2015

What is BareMinerals Bareskin foundation? Well it is a tone correcting mineral foundation and skincare serum in one. This ulta-thin skin perfecting fluid provides seamless, adjustable coverage. It is a natural finish and the look and feel of beautiful bare skin all the while delivering a more noticeable brighter, youthful appearance. BareMinerals is made with the bare minimum ingredients and formulated without water, oil, silicone, parabens or fragrance. It is like nothing you felt before.

It is recommended that you purchase a special brush with this foundation. The new BareFace Perfecting Face Brush by BareMinerals has a specially engineered reservoir that
holds the fluid formula, while the longer, surrounding bristles smooth
out the finish upon application.

I truly like the products from BareMinerals, and the Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum foundation is no exception.
I have been using the traditional BareMinerals for many years and was
skeptical about a liquid foundation from BareMinerals. But my fears
were put to rest when I began to use the liquid foundation.

When using, I suggest that you do the following:

For sheer coverage--Place two drops on the brush

For medium coverage--Place four drops on the brush

For full coverage--Place six drops on the brush

I really love the coverage, and once it is on, it does not feel like anything is even there. So if you want a foundation, that is good for your skin I would recommend giving the Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum foundation a try.

The BareMinerals Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum foundation retails for $29.00. The brush for the foundation retails for $28.00 (I know it is expensive. But if you want to save some money try using a good quality kabuki brush). The foundation and brush can both be purchased at Sephora, Ulta and www.bareescentuals.com and www.amazon.com.

Friday, February 13, 2015

Everyone is in the market for a perfect liquid eyeliner. And I have written some posts regarding this subject. So whenever I come across a product that is going to make makeup application a little easier, I write about it. Make Up For Ever has come out with a matte liquid eyeliner called Ink Liner, that has made lining your eyes simple and easy. The calligraphy tip helps you line your eyes from thick lines to thin lines in a very intense black color. The eyeliner dries quickly, is very matte and lasts all day long (12 hours).

There is one problem with the ink liner, and that is that it can transfer if you touch it. But if you give it a minute or two to dry, it is so worth it. The tip is not too hard or soft, and the line sets to a pitch black. It is also easy to use. The price point is not over the top, and it does exactly
what it promises. I see why they did not make it waterproof. Waterproof
liners tend to be shiny and crack or flake off over time.

One swatch at Sephora, and I fell in love with this. The product comes
in a very tiny bottle with a long handle. It consists of a precise felt
tip, which feels pretty sturdy, flexible and helps me draw both thin and
thick lines with ease. There is no scent, and the liner dries very fast. The eyeliner lasts for 12 hours or more and comes off with eye makeup remover.

TIP: Have trouble using a liquid eyeliner? No problem! Take a eye black pencil, line your eyes, then simply trace over the pencil with your liquid liner.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Get ready to look your very best with BareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 2.0. I chose the 15 Minute palette. It contains two colors, Page Six (matte, light pink) and Most Requested (a brownish/purple). These colors are very classic and will take you from a daytime look to a beautiful evening look. It goes on smoothly, has a silky texture and blends easily. Exactly what I look for in an eyeshadow.

Now I did use Urban Decay's eyeshadow primer so that the colors would pop. So I believe that it helped the shadow from fading. I normally do not wear eyeshadow without putting on a primer. So I do not know the actual longevity of the eyeshadow without a primer. I do love the way the eyeshadow goes on and how easy it is to blend. I also love that it takes so little to get a great effect.

The only downfall is that it is a bit hard to blend with the applicator that
comes in the case. It does not cover enough surface upon application, and is hard to hold onto because it is so short. I suggest using a different applicator such as a regular brush for
eyeshadow.

I really like this Ready Eyeshadow. It did not fail me. I would buy this eyeshadow again, but in different colors.

The BareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 2.0 retails for $20.00. I purchased this eyeshadow set from About Face in Metairie, Louisiana. I believe in supporting small businesses and wanted to give some support to this one. You may also purchase the Ready Eyeshadow at Sephora, Ulta and www.bareescentuals.com.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Everyone loves Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat, but not everyone can afford the product. But after a long search, I found a great dupe. It is L'Oreal MagicLumi Highlighter/Eluminer. It offers the same amount of luminosity, but not as much coverage. But the coverage that it does offer is acceptable.

Loved this a lot more then I thought I would. I apply a thin layer over
my moisturizer, then apply BB cream with a damp makeup sponge. After my
blush, I also dab on a tiny bit in the apple of my cheek. My skin looks
dewy, youthful and glowy. This had not made me break out either, which is
a huge plus. I think this would look too metallic if used as a stand
alone product....but under BB cream or foundation, it's pure gold.

This really makes your face look alive, which is great when you're tired
and looking dull. it also makes my makeup go on smoothly, so it does
its job. I like the packaging and it is a good price so I definitely
recommend it! You really have to shake it when you first get it though
because at first it's separated and you just get liquid. Don't give up
though, just shake it like crazy. after the first couple times, I never
needed to shake it again.

Tip....I would not suggest for super super oily skin however unless you matte down your entire face afterwards. If you have dry skin, it will work well.

L'Oreal Magic/Lumi Highlighter/Eluminer retails for $9.99. It is available at Target, WalMart and ULTA.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Model in a Bottle Lipstick Sealer states it will ensure your pout stays perfect no matter what comes your way. After
applying your favorite lipstick, use this 100% botanical formula to lock
in your color for a smudge-proof, drink-proof, totally kiss-proof,
Model perfect look. The Lipstick Sealer also prevents feathering and
bleeding around the lip line so you can stay gorgeous.

According to the directions, apply your favorite lipstick and blot with a tissue. Brush the
lipstick sealer all over lips generously, keeping lips apart for about
30-45 seconds to dry. Refrain from eating or drinking for about 10
minutes until its magic sealing powers are in place. How simple is that?

I followed the directions word for word. When I went to apply the Model In A Bottle Lipstick Sealer, the sealer stung my lips. Nothing horrible, but I could feel a sting. I did not eat/drink for ten minutes as directed. Wouldn't you know it, the lipstick sealer actually worked. My lips were a little dry, but I was expecting that as one of the ingredients was SD Alcohol 3B. The instructions suggested that you lick your lips after the sealer dries to stop the stinging, which helped.

After removing the lipstick with makeup remover, I made sure to moisturize my lips with a good quality lip moisturizer. Model In a Bottle states that by doing after several days of treatment, the stinging sensation will stop. I have not done this enough times to state whether or not it works, but I wanted you to know about it.

Aside from the stinging, I enjoyed this product. When I tested this product I used a matte lipstick. One of the tips from Model In A Bottle states if you use a creamier lipstick, you should put on the lipstick, blot and then use two coats of the sealer, allowing the coats to dry in between.

When I used the sealer, my lipstick lasted almost all day long. I did have to reapply one time at the end of the day (about 10 hours). So if you are a worker bee, I definitely would recommend this product.